Bama Jam 2009

WOW!! What an incredible week-end! Good music + good friends= Great time!! Ray and I have always loved music, him more than me, and this weekend was just amazing!!

Before writing this blog, I found some songs that were performed to set the mood! Rain or shine, the music continued!! Randy Owens sung every classic "Alabama" song imaginable and we couldn't get enough. The memories of me being a little kid and listening to those songs over and over were flashing in my mind throughout his entire performance. When Jason Aldean started the song "Laugh Until We Cried" instantly the tears began because it reminded me of the struggles Ray and I had trying to have a baby. Same goes with "Remember When" with Alan Jackson. Being away from Avery 3 days was very hard. That is the longest I have ever been away from her, so when this song started, Windy and I both teared up. When Alan Jackson performed "Chattahoochee" the memories of high school were vivid in my mind and yes, I still remember every single word. Every artist that performed brought up many old memories and made wonderful new ones!!!

Now for the best part of the weekend....Ray's performance!! Ray has always had a passion for music that is soooo empowering! Getting to perform at such a large festival was a dream come true for him! Proud doesn't even come close to how I felt seeing him on that stage! This man that I married is truly gifted....Hearing the songs that he has written and listening to him go on and on about everything music like a little kid reminds me why I fell in love with him. I am blessed beyond words with what I have and his dream has now become my dream. I will continue to support him and push him in hopes that he reaches his goal!!

One word sums it up....Disastrous!!!!

Ok....Most of the people that read my blog knew that I had a very exciting weekend planned out for the 3 day MLK weekend. I was taking my first trip to Atlanta with just Avery and looking very forward to it.

Avery and I took off to Atlanta at 12:00 on Friday with the back of the Pathfinder packed to roof. ( I am a ridiculous packer!!) My reason for leaving at 12:00 was so that Avery would sleep most of the way. She slept to Eufaula and stayed awake the rest of the way. She did great, considering the distance, until we got to Atlanta....Oh the drama begins!

SO, I am approaching the 75/85 merge when out of nowhere, the traffic is pretty much at a standstill and just crawling along. I expected this to happen because of the afternoon traffic, but I didn't expect the road sign that was flashing "CarFire...All lanes blocked....60+ min delays"!!! I could feel the panic attack creeping up, so I called Ray and begged him to somehow help me. I explained to him that I could not just sit on an interstate with a 1 1/2 year old. She was doing so good and I knew I was pushing my luck since her nap was cut short. He calmed me down and I decided to take Langford Parkway and just to see what would happen. Very good choice!! I pretty much skipped the blocked highway and got right back on 75/85. Panic attack diverted and Avery never let out a peep! Everything is going well....so I thought!

As I was approaching the 75/85 split, Avery began to cry out of nowhere. Just as I glanced back to check on her, the projectile vomiting began and would NOT stop. Panic attack back in full swing. I am pretty much trapped in a lane that I could not get out of and my daughter is soooo sick. We are trapped on a part of the interstate that the only exits were exits to other major roads. We are pretty much trapped on the interstate. She is crying, I am crying, and completely helpless. Never have I felt so helpless in my life and terrified at the same time!!! I keep driving to my destination for fear if I stopped I would not be able to put her back in that car seat. It is freezing cold outside and she is covered. Poor Ray is at work and more helpless than me and I am begging him on the phone to just calm me down. He calms me down and I make it to my destination. I get Avery out and rush her to a warm bath. She laughs and plays as if everything is fine.

Was this just a case of car sickness? That was the conclusion for 2 hours and then reality hit. And it hit pretty much every 30 mintues until midnight. I have never seen my baby this sick. I am at a friends place, and I am dealing with something I have never dealt with and Ray is 3 1/2 hours away. At the same time, I am starting to feel pretty bad myself. My throat is really starting to hurt and I am running a slight fever. How can I spend the whole week-end up here with a sick child when I am sick too and worse, how can I drive home by myself with a sick child?


Conclusion: Ray being the great husband he is, takes off to Ft. Gaines Friday night. Ray and his wonderful mother had already decided to get up early Saturday and come to Atlanta. They made it to Atlanta by 8:30 and we were home by 12:30. I only got to see 2 out of 7 friends and Avery only got to see 1 out of 5 friends. Avery had a 24 hour stomach virus and was completely better by Saturday night. I went to the doctor Sunday morning and got a prescription for a sinus infection and ear infections. I felt better Monday morning.

Lesson learned: Always take someone with you on a road trip for unforseen occurrences. I will never forget this trip!!! Not the memories I wanted to make, but it definitely made me appreciate my friends and family more for everything that they did.

Christmas Break 2008

We had a great Christmas. It was great spending the whole break with Avery. We were very busy!

The first thing we did was get the kids together and swapped Christmas presents. JW and Grayson know how to spoil a girl!

On Christmas Eve, we went to my mom' s house.

That night, Avery and Kassie opened up their presents. Avery learned quickly on how to open a present! She is a pro now!

Avery also has a fascination with watching herself on the video camera. Everytime I would film her, she would run to me so she could watch herself.

Avery didn't waste anytime Christmas morning....She was up at 4:30 AM and ready to play. We tried to get her to go back to sleep, but finally gave up at 6:00. She loved all of her Christmas toys!! We went to my mom's and Creamer's house for lunch. My dad and Kay, Ray's parents, Anna, Bruce, Kassie, Emerie, Carla, Hunter, and Miss Angie all enjoyed a great lunch! It was so nice having everyone together!!

We had some friends come over with their kids and we all rang in the new year together!

We met up with Windy and Grayson and had a play date at Landmark Park. They have a great playground. They had so much fun!!

Avery's 1st Parade

On December 13th, Ray's dad was the Grand Marshall of the Ft. Gaines Christmas parade. I know....just send me a message, and I can get you an autographed picture! LOL He really wanted Avery to ride with him in the parade, so I thought it would be cute to dress her up and let her ride. She did so good!! Ray drove the car and she sat in Mr. Bill's lap. We have been practicing her wave and she did not disappoint!!

On a side note, this was also the day of mine and Ray's 5th anniversary. It has been an amazing 5 years!!! Ray and I are so lucky to have such an incredible blessing!!

I am thankful for...

With tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I would like to share a few things that I am most thankful for. Now please take note....some of the things I have listed are material things, but I am human and love them for what they are!!

* Avery & Ray- they are my life!!!

* my parents (and that includes Kay and Creamer)- I think about how lucky I am to have 4 parents and how wonderful it is to be able to spend our holidays together!!

* my sister- she would do anything for me

* my nieces and nephews- love, love, love them!

* Ray's parents- they are wonderful!!

* my friends near and far- I have been blessed with great friends! Miss the ones who live elsewhere every day!

* my wonderful coworkers

* Avery's friends & boyfriends

* the memories of my grandparents and my aunts and uncle who are no longer here- We always did Thanksgiving together

* Lucy (my sweet kittie that is almost 9 years old)

* my DVR - gives me a chance to enjoy my shows when sweet baby girl is in bed and I have Blue's Clues and Backyardigans on demand when Avery is begging for them!

* sweet tea

* Alabama's great football season- Tuscaloosa here I come!!

* chicken fingers

* the beach- would love to live on one some day!

What moms will do to get the perfect picture!

Why do moms obsess with the perfect picture? I spent most of my picture time yesterday trying to get an 17 month old to cooperate just to get the "perfect" picture. After the repositioning and wrestling match was over, the candid shots were the best. Go figure! You would think that after 1200 printed pics (no exaggeration) from my own camera, I would realize that my favorite pics of Avery are the ones where she is just being her and no posing.

We went to yesterday to do Christmas and 18 month pictures. After a meltdown, quick game of chase, shattered Christmas lights, another meltdown, hot flash (mine), a wardrobe change of wiggling toddler, and another game of chase, we were able to get 30 pics of Avery. This was the hardest photo session yet. I was physically exhausted after 30 minutes!! Poor Mary (the photographer) really earned her pay yesterday! Now I have the job of picking a picture to make Christmas cards. I have attached a few pics from yesterday. Enjoy!

Avery's first obsession

Growing up, everyone had characters they were obsessed with. The first character (that I can remember) I obsessed with was Strawberry Shortcake. I had everything a girl could imagine...sleeping bag, preschool sleep mat (which my mom still has), lunchbox, and of course the doll.

Avery's current obsession is Blue's Clues. She cannot get enough of Blue and dear old Steve. (We do not like the new guy, Joe!) When she is ready for a little Blue time, she will grab her stuffed Blue and pretty much throw it at me. That is her way of telling me to turn it on. Luckily (or maybe not so luckily) we have a DVR, so we have Blue on demand. I wonder what her next obsession will be when she is tired of dear ol Blue.

OR maybe she is obsessed with Steve!!